Agrostis plant named &#39;Green Twist&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct early flowering  Agrostis  plant with intense green leaves and a cascading habit.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

[0001]Agrostis stolonifera

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

[0002] ‘Green Twist’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofAgrostis plant known by the varietal name ‘Green Twist’. The new varietywas discovered between the years 1998-2000 in a selected breedingprogram in Ausbildungsstätte Auboden, Brunnadern, Switzerland designedto produce a new variety of Agrostis with nice structuralcharacteristics and a long weeping growth habit. The new variety waschosen from a group of unknown, unpatented breeding plants from aselected breeding program. The new variety was first asexuallyreproduced in 2000 by cuttings in Switzerland. The new variety has beentrial and field tested at Ostalpen and has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successivepropagations.

[0004] ‘Green Twist’ is similar to other Agrostis varieties in thebreeding program in leaf color, leaf form, and stem color. ‘Green Twist’is different from other Agrostis varieties in the breeding program inthat ‘Green Twist’ is longer weeping, is mildew resistant, and issterile.

[0005] The following traits also distinguish ‘Green Twist’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0006] 1. ‘Green Twist’ is a beautiful structural plant.

[0007] 2. ‘Green Twist’ has a cascading and extraordinarily long growthhabit.

[0008] 3. ‘Green Twist’ does not bloom.

[0009] 4. ‘Green Twist’ has intense green linear leaves.

[0010] 5. ‘Green Twist’ has light green, wavy, curved culms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the newvariety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with colorillustrations of this type.

[0012]FIG. 1 is a photograph of the whole plant.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the culms of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0014] The following detailed description sets forth characteristics ofthe new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected by asexual reproductions by cuttings carried out in Germany.Plants for the description were grown in a 25 cm pots and were 28 weeksold. Flowering plants were grown in a greenhouse and outside at atemperature range of 10-25° C. The color readings were taken in agreenhouse and outside under natural light. Color references areprimarily to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London.

PLANT

[0015] Height: 20 cm.

[0016] Diameter: 58 cm in a 25 cm pot.

[0017] Length: 1.7 m average; can grow longer than 2 m.

[0018] Vigor: Abundant.

[0019] Roots:

[0020]Source.—Surface runners (bot no rhizomes); Roots build from eachnode that makes soil contact.

[0021]Form.—Very fine; branched; dense.

[0022]Time to initiate roots.—6-8 days at 18-20° C.

[0023]Time to develop roots.—14-18 days at 18-20° C.

[0024] Time to produce a finished plant from a rooted cutting: 10-12weeks in a 11 cm container.

[0025] Culms:

[0026]Form.—Hanging; weeping.

[0027]Diameter.—0.5-1 mm (between the nodes).

[0028]Shape.—Cylindrical.

[0029]Length.—Main culms: 0.9-1.4 m. Lateral culms: 15-60 cm.

[0030]Color.—144C.

[0031]Internode length.—4.7 cm.

[0032]Texture.—Smooth.

[0033]Pubescence.—Glabrous.

[0034]Arrangement.—Abundant; long weeping; very few branching culms atnearly every node until midway up the main branch (from soil); culms arewavy so the leaves grow into different directions.

[0035] Plantlets:

[0036]Diameter.—14.6 cm on cuttings 2 weeks old.

[0037]Average length.—Cuttings 2 weeks old: 12 cm. Plantlets 8-10 weeksold: 20 cm.

[0038]Internode length.—Cuttings 2 weeks old: 3.5-4.5 cm. Plantlets 8-10weeks old: All nodes root on the soil and form new shoots.

[0039]Texture.—Smooth.

[0040]Pubescence.—Glabrous.

[0041]Color.—Cuttings 2 weeks old: 144A. Plantlets 8-10 weeks old: 143A.

[0042] Foliage:

[0043]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0044]Leaf blades.—Shape: Linear. Number: One per node. Width: 0.6 cm.Length: 11.6 cm from sheath. Shape of apex: Acute. Shape of base:Develops from the sheath which encloses the culm and arises from thenode. Texture: Dull. Aspect: Flat; some twisted. Margin type: Entire.Venation: Parallel. Pubescence: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lower surface:Glabrous.

[0045]Color.—Young leaf blade: Upper surface: Between 137B and 137C.Lower surface: Between 137B and 137C. Mature leaf blade: Upper surface:137A. Lower surface: 137A.

[0046] Ligules:

[0047]Length.—1.2 mm.

[0048]Width.—3 mm; encloses half of the culm.

[0049]Shape.—Very thin; short; two-dimensional.

[0050]Color.—Translucent; 149D.

[0051]Pubescence.—Glabrous.

[0052]Number.—One ligule per leaf.

[0053] Sheaths:

[0054]Length.—2.5-4.2 cm; average 3.4. cm.

[0055]Width.—3-4 mm.

[0056]Shape.—Linear; encloses the culm.

[0057]Color.—Near the node: 145C; anthocyanin 200D may be present. Nearthe leaf blade: Between 145A and 145B.

[0058]Petiole.—None; leaves grow direct from the node with a leaf sheathand a leaf blade.

[0059]Veins.—Venation: Parallel. Color: Same as leaf.

FLOWERS

[0060] Flowers: None present.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0061] Reproductive organs: None present.

GENERAL

[0062] Cold tolerance: ‘Green Twist’ is tolerant to cold until thetemperature is −5° C. and lower. From −12° C. ‘Green Twist’ may lose itsleaves, but the plant will hardily regenerate in the Spring.

[0063] Drought tolerance: ‘Green Twist’ is not drought tolerant. The newvariety requires a steady high water supply.

[0064] Mildew resistance: ‘Green Twist’ is mildew resistant.

[0065] Plant diseases: None observed.

[0066] Insect susceptibility: None observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Agrostis plant substantiallyas shown and described.